0
  • entries
    40
  • comments
    0
  • views
    858

Entries in this journal

The 1814 SINGLE LEAF

Die lapping (to improve the coin for striking purposes in the US Mint, which used a SCREW PRESS in producing their coins) caused erasure of the leaves on this branch, making it a very scarce variety. Another interesting artifact of the way things were done so long ago, and so precious in the story it tells.

MikeKing

MikeKing

Common, but not so common, INTERESTING overdate

The 1818/9 is the most common overdate in the Bust Half series, but it's still not easy to find The first one I had was fortuitous in that I bought an 1818 in an NGC holder, but upon inspection, when I received it, it was an 1818/9. I sold that coin. Can't remember if it was a large or a small 9, but what I'm discussing here is the small 9. The small 9 reveals more of the 8 which lies under it. Also, there was only ONE set of dies for this particular overdate, as opposed to several for the la

MikeKing

MikeKing

Interesting Reverse on the 181.7 punctuated date Bust Half Dollar

The reverse shows the well known AMERIJA, likely due to the "I" punch breaking before they used it. Interesting fact is that the REVERSE of THIS coin is the same REVERSE of the fabulously rare 1817/4 (I believe one is being auctioned by Heritage in Baltimore). Well, if you have one of these, at least you have half of an 1817/4!

MikeKing

MikeKing

Photo close up of the 181.7 50C puinctuated date

For anyone interested in a couple of closeups (this and the next journal entry). Closeup of the date on the 181.7 50C. Thought not to be an actual overdate, rather, just an error in keeping the working die free from any damages (like someone poking a small hole in it and mystifying collectors for the next 150 years). See the Reverse shot in the next journal entry. Photos of the full obverse and reverse are in my Capped Bust set if you'd like to view them.

MikeKing

MikeKing

An 1808/7 that I couldn't resist!

1808 and 1808/7 are two empty slots in my Capped Bust Half collection that I've found very hard to fill. Not due to any paucity of these coins, rather, the difficulty in finding really nice ones. For example, I had an 1808 NGC 58 that was quite superb in many ways, but it had been dipped, and retoned peripherally, in a way I found very 'artificial'. I don't mean AT (artificial toning), but the coin just didn't have 'the look' that I'm interested in, so I sold it. Yes, at a loss! I just had to

MikeKing

MikeKing

Those darn 1807 Bust Halves

I always figured I'd just have to settle for the 1807 large stars 50 over inverted 5 (otherwise known as the 50/20 [sic] {see my registry set for a more detailed discussion of the erroneous 50/20 designation}). I was tickled when I landed a really really nice one in AU55, and never figured I'd own those two really really difficult to find 'large stars' and 'small stars' varieties. And of those 'Bearded Ladies' supposedly so rare but popping up all over the place (I bought one once in a PCGS VF

MikeKing

MikeKing

Original Gold

I think there is a general understanding that most of the gold available in today's market has been manipulated in one way or another. Just try to find un-hairlined circulated or low MS gold. I spent hours and hours and days, looking around at the ANA in Milwaukee recently, and came up with very little. It's almost become a new challenge of mine, so challenging, I think I should throw in the towel before I even get my feet wet. And believe me, they are not even wet yet. Now, Bust Halv

MikeKing

MikeKing

Intrinsic value

Or maybe I should use the phrase 'intrinsic numismatic value' as put forth by a colleague (zoins) on the NGC board?   Buying a coin with intrinsic value depends on so many things, and the numbers of coins extant, to me, is one of the most important.Why? Because if there are only 23 extant, I'd be terribly pleased if it was originally toned, never wiped and grade almost irrelevant, but XF to AU would be perfectly pleasing to me, And if the price is good, you KNOW you're getting a real bargain,

MikeKing

MikeKing

What a totally untouched unfooled with original Bust Half can look like (1824/1)

This is one of three coins I won in the Sheridan Downey auction which finalized at the Milwaukee ANA World's Fair of Money. The story is that these coins were in a vault, untouched, since the Civil War. Purchased in a probate sale by Chuck Erb, and then later passed on the Brad H. of the BHNC. Silvery grey patination with underlying luster, these coins are currently raw. I will have them certified, not for the reason of grading them, rather, for their protection. I can only place the photo

MikeKing

MikeKing

Being SMART

I'll tell you...as I examine myself...as a collector...and look back, and look at myself now, I feel like I'm walking a tightrope. And maybe that's a good thing. Because the more people I interact with on the boards, and the more coins I examine, and the more dealers I deal with, the more and more I see my own frailties. I look at my mistakes...and gosh...I still make them. But at least I'm the one now who's figuring out WHAT'S a mistake and what is not. And basically, how you can only

MikeKing

MikeKing

PUNCH

No, not the cigar and not the boxing ring kind.... The question I've been asking myself lately is " Does the coin have PUNCH ?? "Does the coin have Punch?Does it come out at you?Or, when you look at it, do you melt?Is it a pleasure to hold in hand?Is it different from the rest?You get the drift.So, if you're looking for coins with PUNCH...how can you assemble an entire set of PUNCH happy coins???If you did, then WHERE is the PUNCH????Isn't it lost???Just a question I ask.Can you assemble a coll

MikeKing

MikeKing

DIPPED coin (#6) and why I bought it!

Dipping....lot's of different opinions. Most Busties have been at some time or another and retoned...some didn't retone, some have been over-dipped and ruined... But a dip that reveals the surface archetectonics like this one, which reveals a truly FROSTY Bust Half, is a rarity indeed. At least I think so. So, again, as I've said in other entries, I'll state my reasons for buying this particular coin: 1. It's an 1828 curl 2 in mint state, and that's not easy to find. 2. It's a mint stat

MikeKing

MikeKing

Why I bought this Bust Half (Coin #5)

I promised I'd review the things that charge me up when it comes to choosing a coin and saying YES!, for the next ten coins I purchased. Here's #5, sorry, I'm falling behind. I'm going to cut and paste from my registry set entry and then make a summary commentary: 1810 50C Overton 102 R.2 The coins I'm most recently acquiring I've searched high and low for. The optimal 1810 would be one that is well struck. This one is characteristically poorly struck centrally, in fact, the left wing of t

MikeKing

MikeKing

Is it THRILLING?

My apologies for not following up with write ups on the past few coins I've acquired, but I haven't been able to do much typing because of a neurologic problem I have. But I thought I'd type this one in because it's short. If its not THRILLING, it's worth selling. I re-examined the photos of all of my coins, and I can honestly say that only a fraction of them are THRILLING (to me). Why not keep those, and sell the rest? So step 2 is to re-examine these coins in hand and then make the

MikeKing

MikeKing

It's time to start taking the upper hand...if you can, and feel qualified to do so.

And if you don't feel qualified to do so, start reading and studying and scouring for all the information you can AND READ BETWEEN THE LINES of auction descriptions and dealer descriptions and try to sell a few of those coins back and you will beging to see more of what the truth is all about. You'll begin to discern what is important to you and what compares to the market in terms of buying and whether this matches up or is a mis-match. The time will come where you will realize that you may

MikeKing

MikeKing

A good coin is a good coin.

Anyone remember the Seinfeld episode where George says 'an egg is an egg!'? Well, when I'm examining a coin, and I take it out of the bank's Vault (and I only keep them there because the insurance is cheaper and the box doesn't cost much...even though it's one of the 'larger' boxes), I have two places in my house where they usually end up. Except of course if I absentmindedly put it down somewhere, like on the piano or something like that and then wonder where the ____ did I put that coin? T

MikeKing

MikeKing

Why I bought this Bust Half (coin #4)

I think I need to stop buying coins for awhile, lest I go broke. But I couldn't resist this one.This is just to remind myself that I said I would post the reasons for my buying the 'next 10 coins' for my collection. Well, I'm up to coin #4 with #5 soon to follow. If this bores you, fine, I'd be bored too, if it wasn't for the fact that I really believe, really really believe, that the more questions you ask about a given coin and the more positive answers you can come up with, the greater the l

MikeKing

MikeKing

Why I bought this Connecticut Copper (coin #3) edited to include population data

I'm up to 3 out of 10 for giving the reasons why I purchased this (third out of ten) coin.   I just edited this entry to include population data which was a determinant that influenced my buying this coin.Firstly, I'm working on a Colonial type set and could use a 1786 Connecticut Copper. But there are so many slots that could be filled for Connecticut, and I doubt I'd ever fill them all, so why this particular coin?2. The coin is almost impossible to find without significant corrosion, and th

MikeKing

MikeKing

Re: How do I get great pics?

The NGC discussion board has a section entitled What You Need To Know, and in there, one of the members compiled links to most of the previous posts pertaining to photographing your coins. I think you'll find the answers to most questions over there. It's helped me a lot.  

MikeKing

MikeKing

Why I bought THIS Bust Half (#2) edited

I'm continuing my self promise to layout the thinking which goes behind my next 10 purchases...no matter what. In fact, even if I've made a dumb mistake ... No, this is not one of my mistakes. This is about the curled base 2, 1827 Bust Half I just bought off ebay. Raw. Pretty chancy eh? 1. I was looking for an 1827 curled base 2. I've been avidly looking for an 1827 curled base 2 for months now, actually, maybe even a year. They just don't show up. Period. On screen the coin 'looke

MikeKing

MikeKing

0